Mavs Thursday Donuts: Don't take starting duo of Dwight Powell with Porzingis for granted

Mavs Thursday Donuts: Don't take Dwight Powell (or Porzingis) for granted

DONUT 1: P 'N' P

DALLAS - No, the Dallas Mavericks once again didn't reach the heights of Summer Shopping and sign a "big fish'' in the traditional (and expected) manner. Yes, we promise to quit wining about it very soon, pacified in part by making sure we don't take for granted the signings of Kristaps Porzingis and Dwight Powell.

Especially because they appear to be the starting big-man tandem for the 2019-20 version of the Mavs.

DONUT 2: DOES 'SIGN YOUR OWN' MATTER?

The Mavericks aren't being given much credit for having retained a guy who they think "fits'' as a playmaker in Powell, 27, who agreed on a three-year $33 million extension. But even if some MFFL disagree with Dallas' evaluation and valuation of the player ... assuming the Mavs know what they're doing here, shouldn't they get credit for "signing their own'' here?

DONUT 3: OKG

At Dallas Cowboys headquarters, coach Jason Garrett likes to refer to the "Right Kind of Guy.'' "RKG,'' we call it for short.

At Mavs HQ, coach Rick Carlisle goes with "Our Kind of Guy.'' So we go with "OKG.'' And yes, Dwight is all of that ... and yes, it shouldn't be taken for granted.

DONUT 4: TRUE COMMITMENT

Despite contrary media reports going into the summer, Powell and the Mavs had long been on the same page regarding his future with the team, and as he told the media back in April, Dallas is exactly where he desired to land.

"I definitely want to be here,'' Powell said then. "The opportunities that have been afforded to be between Mark (Cuban) and coach (Carlisle), I'm always grateful for that. And I love the city of Dallas. I want to stay here.''

And now?

DONUT 5: QUOTABLE DP

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DONUT 6: KP? COMMITMENT, TOO

KP was always in a similar circumstance. There were no guarantees that when Dallas traded for him from the Knicks that in the summer of 2019 he'd accept the five-year, $158 million max deal that by the time we got to July 1 became a "no-brainer.''

Dallas deserves credit for having done a nice sales job here -- one that truly probably started almost a decade ago, when people like Donnie Nelson and Tony Ronzone began earning the trust of the Porzingis family.

A trust that apparently was never forged in New York.

DONUT 7: AN UGLY VISION

But before we discount this signing as a "no-brainer,'' consider how it might've looked had it all fallen apart, had KP not bonded with Dallas in the same way he apparently didn't bond in New York.

In fact, a Mavs watcher doesn't have to imagine this out of thin air; all you have to do is tell your brain to think of "Nerlens Noel.''

The "no-brainers'' are not always what they seem.

DONUT 8: QUOTABLE KP

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DONUT 9: DOLLARS AND SENSE

With KP, there was certainly a contractual understanding ... as there was with Powell. The misunderstanding, or the argument, is whether the players prove to be worth their price tags.

Porzingis' justification of his $158 mil is all about health. Beyond that, there is little doubt about his star quality.

The Powell extension, which will not take effect until the 2020-21 season, remains a matter of debate. To the Mavs, $11 mil per year is a fine price point for a guy who, via advanced stats, is more impressive than means the eye.

DONUT 10: POWELL BY THE NUMBERS

In his five seasons since coming to Dallas via the Rajon Rondo trade in the 2014-15 season, Powell's game has continued to grow at an exponential rate each and every season, with the 2018-19 season acting as a coming out party of sorts.

In those five seasons, Powell has averaged 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds in 18 minutes per game. However, last season those numbers were elevated with him averaging 10.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 21 minutes per game, with a 63.7-percent effective field-goal percentage.

When taking a deeper dive into the numbers, the effectiveness of Powell begins to shine through even more. Per 100 possessions last season, Powell averaged 23.8 points, 12 rebounds,, 3.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks with a stellar offensive rating of 135, the latter of which led the entire NBA.

Powell also finished 2018-19 ranking 20th in the league in offensive win shares with 5.6, 8th in win shares per 48 minutes with .215, and second in true shooting percentage at 68.2-percent. Had he qualified to be ranked in the effective field goal percentage category, his 63.7-percent number would have been good for fourth in the NBA.

Known primarily as a rim-running threat off of the pick-and-roll, Powell has developed into one of the better lob threats in all of the NBA, hitting 73-percent of his shots within 10 feet.

And the growth continues ...

Though he managed to hit just 30.7-percent of his three-point attempts in 2018-19, Powell has developed that part of his game enough over the years to the point in which he could be considered a viable threat from beyond the arc.

In fact, post-All Star break, Powell hit a solid 39.7 percent from three, including 41.2 percent in catch and shoot situations, and 42.5 percent when he was left with at least six feet of space.

DONUT 11: P 'N' P AS STARTERS

We know that along with Luka Doncic, Porzingis is, not counting "load management,'' an every-night starter. Beyond that, Carlisle will likely mix-and-match his starting five. But Powell figures to be there most nights, figures to continue to grow as a player and maybe figures to remind us to not take his (or KP's) retention for granted ... if no because of how ugly the alternatives might have been.

DONUT 12: THE FINAL WORD

"He’s constant energy, force, brings … intangible team elements to the equation. He’s physical. And I think him and KP together makes sense from the standpoint of a physical guy next to KP is good for our team." - Rick Carlisle, telling us to get used to the idea of Powell next to Porzingis as a pair of big-man starters ... and telling us to like it.